co2 for low light tank

**turtlehead** · 23rd Mar 2005, 07:37

Will it beneficial to add co2 to a low light moss only tank?

**stocker** · 23rd Mar 2005, 07:53

Prob will speed up the growth. Think you may have to add a little bit of fert too.

**|squee|** · 23rd Mar 2005, 10:26

Of course it'd be beneficial. But when you add something, you have to increase the levels of other things too. So generally imo C02 addition means you have to up your ferts as well.

**lorba** · 24th Mar 2005, 07:20

A low light moss tank without does not mean the moss will not be nice. One way is to keep it in airconditioned location, such that water is cold.

But be diligent with water change and removal of mulms and dirt from the shrimps, if you have. Green hair algae will eventually sprout.

**turtlehead** · 24th Mar 2005, 07:39

will I have to increase the lighting? I now live in the USA not Asia so I don't have to worry about heat, I have to buy a heater

**|squee|** · 24th Mar 2005, 08:49

Originally Posted by turtlehead

will I have to increase the lighting? I now live in the USA not Asia so I don't have to worry about heat, I have to buy a heater

Lucky you.

In general, moderate lighting, with cold water will make moss grow very well. C02 is not a must here, since adding C02 will add one more variable to your tank, and that will complicate matters and algae will arise. Increasing the lighting is not a must, since you have to make sure the moss's growth increases along with the additional light. Too much and algae comes, too little and algae comes. It's a balancing issue imho.

**turtlehead** · 24th Mar 2005, 09:27

what temperature would be nice?

**|squee|** · 24th Mar 2005, 09:43

Generally in the twenties for my experience; my Java Moss grew crazilyly in temperatures of 25 degrees with C02 and fert.

I suppose a good range will be 21 to 28 degrees.

**turtlehead** · 24th Mar 2005, 09:48

this is going to low maintinence then, what about no co2 and weekly ferts only? How fast will the moss grow?

**|squee|** · 24th Mar 2005, 09:52

No C02 and weekly ferts with low temps should be good. ( someone with the actual low-maintainence moss experience will really be able to help you here

)

**turtlehead** · 24th Mar 2005, 10:48

You were very helpful |squee| what if my temp can only be at 16 C? Is that bad?

**|squee|** · 24th Mar 2005, 11:01

Woah, it's almost impossible for us to get that temperature, so our normal range will be 21-28 degrees C. I do not know what will happen if moss gets 16C though, there's only so far low you can go. I'd try it though, cold water is a luxury for us in Singapore and we would like to know what happens when moss gets that cold temp

**turtlehead** · 24th Mar 2005, 14:24

That's what I get in America, I still love Asia.

**Robert** · 25th Mar 2005, 05:28

Hi,
Co2 is not really necessary for a low light moss tank, except you want to keep Monoselenium tenerum which seems to need quite a lot of Co2 but that is a liverwort. 16°C should not be a problem. I keep most moss species like weeping, java, taiwan, erect, stringy, singapore, etc. at 19-22°C (room temperature) and all grow well. I guess the a bit lower temperatures should also be no problem, for willow moss it's even better. The amount of light is the biggest problem. Too less light and the mosses grow very slowly, too much and you get all kinds of algae.

regards

Robert

**turtlehead** · 25th Mar 2005, 06:12

how many watt would you suggest for a 5 gallon cube then?

**Robert** · 25th Mar 2005, 07:03

Hi,
5 gallon? Sorry, I'm a European, so how mean litres are this? I guess it should be about 20l. So a small PL should be enough. I would suggest 7-11W, test them to know what is suitable. I would prefer the 7Watt one from Azoo with 7200K because it's really bright and I have good experiences with it. But other brands and Watts should work too. You can also use a single 15Watt FL tube, it's also enough light for mosses (I use such set u in my 20-30l shrimp tanks for years now).

regards

Robert